In-person schooling is essential even during periods of high transmission of COVID-19

During the early phase of the pandemic, school closures were one of the non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) implemented globally to reduce transmission. Given that SARS-CoV-2 will continue to circulate for years to come, school closures may be debated again. As familiar respiratory viruses have returned, their combined pressure alongside COVID-19 caused renewed discussion of closures in the UK and initiation of remote learning in areas of the USA in the winter of 2022. This suggests that debates around school closures will continue into the future.